A dental implant acts as an anchor and interfaces with the jaw or skull bone for rightly supporting a dental prosthesis like a bridge, crown, facial prosthesis or a denture. Dental implants are frames or metal posts that are surgically fixed beneath the gums into the jawbone.
Osseointegration is a biological process that forms the basis of modern-day dental implants. In this process, the material titanium is usually used for creating an intimate bond to the bone. So, if a question arises in the mind of the individuals that “are titanium dental implants safe,” then the answer is a yes.
Once the dental implant surgery is over and the implants are in the correct place, the dentist then mounts replacement teeth. Dental implants happen to be one of the best solutions for one missing tooth or many of them. Most importantly, dental implant surgery is not too complicated and a safe option even for seniors. Therefore, one of the most preferred choices among dentists and patients.
Table of Contents :-
Feel free to skip ahead if one topic catches your eye:
- How Does Dental Implant Work?
- How Painful is the Dental Implant Procedure?
- Pain Management After Dental Implants
- What is the Success Rate of Dental Implants?
- How Does Use of Modern Dental Implant Technology Reduce Pain?
1. How Does Dental Implant Work?
Dental implants prove to be extremely helpful in case of one or more than one missing teeth. Dental implant surgery involves inserting a post made up of titanium that attaches to the underlying jaw bone. It also supports the facial structure by applying a sufficient amount of tension, thereby ensuring that the jaw bone continues to produce fresh and healthy bone cells. Each of the implant process parts plays a significant role in completely restoring the function of teeth, improving the aesthetics of the smile, and maintaining overall good oral health. Let us learn a bit more about the phases involved in the process.
Post- The post is the part of the implants that act as a substitute for the missing roots. They are attached under the gumline into the bone, which ultimately fuses by forming a strong and sturdy foundation. Titanium posts are most commonly used since they readily fuse with the bone.
Abutment- Once the posts are attached, the patients are given some healing time, and then an abutment is attached to the implant. The abutment serves as a connecting piece by quickly allowing a fixture to be appropriately fitted to the implant. An abutment is also made up of titanium since they are safe, long-lasting, and ensures a secure fit.
Fixture- The fixtures are seen above the gumline that acts as a substitute for the missing teeth and includes the following.
Crown – For a single missing tooth, a crown is used to cap the implant and ultimately restore the tooth’s function. It looks like a natural tooth since it is made out of tooth-colored porcelain.
Bridge – For two or more missing teeth in a series, a bridge is fitted. A bridge is a group of tooth-colored porcelain arranged in a single fixture.
Dentures Supported by Implants – The dentures are securely attached to the implants by using either snaps or a bar for holding them in their proper place. These are different from the traditional prosthetics, where they rest above the gums.
The Working Procedure of Implants :-
The dental implants work by providing stable support to artificial teeth since they easily fuse into the jaw bone. This, in turn, ensures that the bridges and dentures, when mounted onto the implants, would not shift or slip in the mouth while speaking or eating. The secure fit helps the bridges and dentures, and the individual crowns placed onto the implants have a more natural feel than the conventional dentures or bridges. One significant advantage of implants is that adjacent teeth are not made to hold the newly replaced teeth in their designated place.
For dental implant surgery, the individuals need to have healthy gums and enough bone for supporting the implants. Dental implant problems might arise in case gums are not fit or when there is insufficient bone. Thus, it becomes essential to consult an experienced professional to determine the suitability of implants to avoid any side effects of dental implants. After the implants, the individuals should make sure to keep these structures healthy. To effectively do the same, they need to meticulously follow an oral hygiene routine and regular dental checkups to ensure the long-term success of the entire process.
2. How Painful is the Dental Implant Procedure?
One crucial truth about dental implants is that they are not severely painful. Most of the individuals who have undergone dental implant surgery say that they have experienced minor discomfort and pain. But it is necessary to consult an adequately trained and vastly experienced dentist to take care of the entire procedure. Let us understand a bit more about the surgery to get an idea about dental implant pain.
Step 1 – The dentists begin with numbing the entire area by using local anesthesia to feel no discomfort during the dental implant surgery.
Step 2 – After the area is completely numb, an incision is made in the gum to expose the jaw bone. A hole is then drilled for placing the implant. Drilling might sound painful, but the jaw bone is devoid of any nerves, and hence no pain is felt. The discomfort felt here is the pressure involved during the drilling process, but there would be no pain.
Step 3 – Once drilling is over, the dental implants are then screwed into the designated place. The entire process of numbing the area, making the incision, drilling, and fixing the implants takes about an hour.
Step 4 – If the dentist is satisfied with the placement of the implants, then the incision is closed while the anesthesia is still in effect. So, the entire process is completed without any severe dental implant pain or discomfort.
Factors Causing Dental Implant Pain :-
The patient does not feel any pain during the dental implant surgery because the mouth is anesthetized. But there might be postoperative dental implant pain in some patients due to the following reasons.
- Dental implant infection
- Lack of appropriate bone support
- Allergic reaction
- Inadequate or improper oral hygiene
- Teeth grinding
- Smoking
The patients might feel discomfort or a bit of dental implant pain in the area of treatment, jaw, and face for about ten days on average. Also, there might be some swelling in some patients. Both pain and swelling start to decrease from the third after the dental implant surgery. Within 14 days from the surgery, the patients might feel almost no pain or discomfort, and the implants start healing quite nicely. Even if there is an existence of pain, swelling, and discomfort after the 14th day, it is recommended to visit the dentist immediately since it might be a sign of infection.
3. Pain Management After Dental Implants:-
Pain management after dental implant surgery is of immense importance. The dentists take a lot of care to make the patients feel comfortable and effectively administer the pain, swelling, and discomfort associated with the procedure. Pain and swelling are dealt with appropriately with antibiotics and painkillers as suggested by the dentists. The individuals undergoing dental implants might feel mild soreness which is dealt with over-the-counter pain medications like Voveran , Flozen plus, Paracetamol etc.
Here are a few ways to effectively manage pain after dental implant surgery.
- Take the painkillers and antibiotics as suggested by the dentist
- Application of ice pack to manage pain and swelling after the surgery
- It is recommended to limit physical activities after the surgery since it might increase the pain
- Eating soft foods for a week to prevent chewing, thereby helping to reduce pressure on the gums which manages pain
- Proper oral hygiene should be followed to minimize the chances of dental implants infection problems and associated pain
Even after taking the suggested medicines and adhering to the steps mentioned above, if the pain, swelling, or discomfort does not reduce after three days of surgery, it should be immediately reported to the dentist without any delay.
4. What is the Success Rate of Dental Implants?
As per the reports regarding dental implant surgery, it has been revealed that about 95 percent success rate is prevalent during the last decade. From this, it can be very clearly understood how successful dental implants are. But it is also to be kept in mind that the implants are not suitable for all. A common question that arises here is, “Are dental implants safe for seniors?” To get the correct answer to this question, it is essential to get in touch with a dentist. The dentist would examine the suitability of a candidate to opt for dental implants. If the gums are healthy and sufficient bone is present for supporting the implants, it is a safe and reliable option. Moreover, there are no such reports of severe dental implant problems and hence generally considered a preferable option for one or more missing teeth.
The overall success rate of dental implants varies from person to person, depending on the placement of the implants in the jaw. The success rate can be as high as up to 98 percent, and with proper care, dental implants can last lifelong. Here are a few essential factors that affect the success rate of dental implant surgery.
- Experience and expertise of the dentist
- Overall oral health of the individual undergoing the surgery
- Proper post-operative care and medications
- Making use of modern and advanced technology
- Appropriate maintenance of the implants
- Right oral hygiene
5. How Does Use of Modern Dental Implant Technology Reduce Pain?
With the advancements in medical science, dental implant technology has significantly evolved over the years. The evolution has brought about a lot of changes in the overall implant procedure. The process has become quick and comfortable for the patients. With reduced pain and a high success rate, dental implant surgery has become a preferred method of treating one or more missing teeth. Here are a few advancements in dental implant technology that improve accuracy and reduce pain.
Advancements in Software – Improved technology makes the overall process safer and efficient for patients. Advances in software allow dentists to plan the implant procedure before the starting of surgery rightly. Advanced and modern software are used in conjunction with the scanning technology allows the dentists to take an in-depth approach to the design and enhance its predictability and safety with reduced pain.
High-Tech CT Scanners – The modern-day and advanced CT scanners readily enhance the rate of accuracy as well as the success of dental implant surgery. The 3D head scan has proven to produce an accurate portrait of precisely what the dentists need to see. Most importantly, these scanners are entirely safe for the patients compared to the previously used harmful x-ray machines to do the task.
Improved Material – The material of the implants is a matter of immense importance. Nowadays, titanium is used for implants that are strong and durable and ease the pain during the healing process.
All on 4 Implants – ‘All on four implants is the result of advancements in dental implant technology. It is used for rehabilitating patients who wish to go for full dental implants or full arch replacement with a compromised bone situation.
At Orion Dental Care, every individual can be assured of getting the best dental implant surgery. The experts at the clinic would make sure to complete the entire dental implant procedure in a professional manner. At the same time, the experts take very good care to minimise dental implant pain and with utmost care, which is undoubtedly the biggest benefit for every patient. Each of the doctors at Orion Dental Care are adequately trained and vastly experienced to provide the premium quality treatment facilities to every patient that too at an affordable cost. Overall, Orion Dental Clinic assures every patient of a seamless dental implant experience. If you are looking forward to getting the best dental implant in Greater kailesh – South Delhi, no other option would be as good as Orion Dental Care in this regard.
